In one embodiment, a device in a network determines that a plurality of packets should be aggregated, each of the plurality of packets comprising a payload. The device generates, for each of the payloads, a sub-media access control (sub-MAC) header that comprises a sequence number and a frame check sequence (FCS). The device forms an aggregated packet that comprises a physical layer (PHY) header, a MAC header, the payloads, and the generated sub-MAC headers for the payloads. The device sends the aggregated packet to another device in the network.